A method of producing a semiconducting material

Abstract: A method of producing a semiconducting material comprises reacting one or more of halogenosilanes with an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal in an inert solvent to give a condensate and thermally decomposing the condensate. The condensate is dissolved in a suitable solvent such as toluene and tetrahydrofuran and applied by casting to a suitable substrate. The resulting semiconductor material in its film form has an optical band-gap (EO) of usually 0.1-4.0 eV.

Description: This invention relates to a method of producing a semiconducting material for use in the formation of diodes, transistors, field effect transistors, thyristors and like semiconductor elements. A gas-phase crystal growth procedure has found extensive use in the production of thin films of amorphous silicone or compound semiconductors in which their low molecular weight feedstock in gaseous phase is thermally decomposed or chemically reacted in high vacuum to deposit on a substrate. This method however would involve prohibitive costs to reduce to practice for making large semiconductor films because there will be required large-scale vacuum devices on one hand and there is a limitation imposed upon the rate of film deposition on the other. With the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art in view, the present invention seeks to provide an improved method of producing semiconducting materials at a maximum rate of efficiency and a minimum of costs. JP-A-05 025 281 describes a process for producing an organo-silicon polymer useful for forming SiC precursors. The process involves subjecting methylphenyldichlorosilane and n-butyltrichlorosilane to a desalting reaction by the action of metallic sodium. JP-A-05 025 282 is directed to a similar process to that described in JP-A-05 025 281 the difference lying in the reactants used in the process; methylphenyldichlorosilane and phenyltrichlorosilane. DE-A-4 110 917 discloses a thermal treatment for producing silicon carbide from a polysilane. The described process is concerned with the use of certain metals as catalysts using temperatures in excess of 800 degrees Celcius. EP-A-0 445 306 discloses the reaction of halosilanes with alkali metals at 100°C to prepare a polysilane composition useful as an organic semi-conductor. According to the invention there is provided a method of producing a semiconducting material which is characterized by reacting one or more halogenosilanes of the group consisting of : halogenomonosilanes of the formula wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of X, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and silyl groups having the formula: R 3 R 4 R 5 Si-- wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selectd from the group consisting of alkyl groups having up to 8 carbon atoms and aryl groups having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and X which is chlorine, bromine or iodine, halogenodisilanes having the formula: wherein R 6 to R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of X, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, said silyl groups (I') and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, and at least one of R 6 to R 10 is X, and halogenotrisilanes having the formula: wherein R 11 to R 17 are independently selected from the group consisting of X, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, said silyl groups (I') and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, and at least one of R 11 to R 17 is X, with an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal to give a condensate, and thermally decomposing said condensate at a temperature of 100 to 700 degrees Celsius. The term halogenomonosilane of the formula (I) according to the invention preferably includes tetrachlorosilane, i-propyltrichlorosilane, t-butyltrichlorosilane, (1-methylpropyl)trichlorosilane, cyclohexyltrichlorosilane, (1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)trichlorosilane, α-phenethyltrichlorosilane, cumenyltrichlorosilane, (trimethylsilyl)trichlorosilane, di-i-propyldichlorosilane, di-t-butyldichlorosilane, di(1-methylpropyl)dichlorosilane, dicyclohexyldichlorosilane, di-α-phenethyldichlorosilane and bis(trimethylsilyl)dichlorosilane, and further includes tetrabromosilane, i-propyltribromosilane, t-butyltribromosilane, (1-methylpropyl)tribromosilane, cyclohexyltribromosilane, (1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)tribromosilane, α-phenethyltribromosilane, cumenyltribromosilane, (trimethylsilyl)tribromosilane, di-i-propyldibromosilane, di-t-butyldibromosilane, di(1-methylpropyl)dibromosilane, dicyclohexyldibromosilane, di-α-phenethyldibromosilane, bis(trimethylsilyl)dibromosilane, tetraiodosilane, i-propyltriiodosilane, t-butyltriiodosilane, (1-methylpropyl)triiodosilane, cyclohexyltriiodosilane, (1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)triiodosilane, α-phenethyltriiodosilane, cumenyltriiodosilane, (trimethylsilyl)triiodosilane, di-i-propyldiiodosilane, di-t-butyldiiodosilane, di(1-methylpropyl)diiodosilane, dicyclohexyldiiodosilane, di-α-phenethyldiiodosilane and bis(trimethylsilyl)diiodosilane. Halogenodisilanes of the formula (II) preferably include hexachlorodisilane, i-propylpentachlorodisilane, t-butylpentachlorodisilane, (1-methylpropyl)pentachlorodisilane, cyclohexylpentachlorodisilane, (1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)pentachlorodisilane, α-phenethylpentachlorodisilane, cumenylpentachlorodisilane, (trimethylsilyl)pentachlorodisilane, 1,1-di-i-propyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,1-di-t-butyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,1-di(1-methylpropyl)tetrachlorodisilane, 1,1-dicyclohexyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,1-di-α-phenethyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,1-bis(trimethyloilyl)tetrachlorodisilane, 1,2-di-i-propyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,2-di-t-butyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,2-di(1-methylpropyl)tetrachlorodisilane, 1,2-dicylohexyltetrachlorodisilane, 1,2-di-α-phenethyltetrachlorodisilane and 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)tetrachlorodisilane. They further include 1,1,1-tri-i-propyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,1-tri-t-butyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,1-tri(1-methylpropyl)trichlorodisilane, 1,1-tricyclohexyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,1-tri-α-phenethyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,1-tris(trimethylsilyl)trichlorodisilane, 1,1,2-tri-i-propyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,2-tri-t-butyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,2-tri(1-methylpropyl)trichlorodisilane, 1,1,2-tricyclohexyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,2-tri-α-phenethyltrichlorodisilane, 1,1,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)trichlorodisilane, hexabromodisilane, i-propylpentabromodisilane, t-butylpentabromodisilane, (1-methylpropyl)pentabromodisilane, cyclohexylpentabromodisilane, (1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)pentabromodisilane, α-phenethylpentabromodisilane, cumenylpentabromodisilane, (trimethylsilyl)pentabromodisilane, 1,1-di-i-propyltetrabromodisilane, 1,1-di-t-butyltetrabromodisilane, 1,1-di(1-methylpropyl)tetrabromodisilane, 1,1-dicyclohexyltetrabromodisilane, 1,1-di-α-phenethyltetrabromodisilane, 1,1-bis(trimethyisiiyl)tetrabromodisilane, 1,2-di-i-propyltetrabromodisilane, 1,2-di-t-butyltetrabromodisilane, 1,2-di(1-methylpropyl)tetrabromodisilane, 1,2-dicyclohexyltetrabromodisilane, 1,2-di-α-phenethyltetrabromodisilane, 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)tetrabromodisilane, 1,1,1-tri-i-propyltribromodisilane, 1,1,1-tri-t-butyltribromodisilane, 1,1,1-tri(1-methylpropyl)tribromodisilane, 1,1,1-tricyclohexyltribromodisilane, 1,1,1-tri-α-phenethyltribromodisilane, 1,1,1-tris(trimethylsilyl)tribromodisilane, 1,1,2-tri-i-propyltribromodisilane, 1,1,2-tri-t-butyltribromodisilane, 1,1,2-tri(1-methylpropyl)tribromodisilane, 1,1,2-tricyclohexyltribromodisilane, 1,1,2-tri-α-phenethyltribromodisilane, 1,1,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)tribromodisilane, hexaiododisilane, i-propylpentaiododisilane, t-butylpentaiododisilane, (1-methylpropyl)pentaiododisilane, cyclohexylpentaiododisilane, (1,1,2-triemthylpropyl)pentaiododisilane, α-phenethylpentaiododisilane, cumenylpentaiododisilane, (trimethylsilyl)pentaiododisilane, 1,1-di-i-propyltetraiododisilane, 1,1-di-t-butyltetraiododisilane, 1,1-di(1-methylpropyl)tetraiododisilane, 1,1-dicyclohexyltetraiododisilane, 1,1-di-α-phenethyltetraiododisilane, 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)tetraiododisilane, 1,2-di-i-propyltetraiododisilane, 1,2-di-t-butyltetraiododisilane, 1,2-di(1-methylpropyl)tetraiododisilane, 1,2-dicyclohexyltetraiododisilane, 1,2-di-α-phenethyltetraiododisilane, 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)tetraiododisilane, 1,1,1-tri-i-propyltriiododisilane, 1,1,1-tri-t-butyltriiododislane, 1,1,1-tri(1-methylpropyl)triiododisilane, 1,1,1-tricyclohexyltriiododisilane, 1,1,1-tri-α-phenethyltriiododisilane, 1,1,1-tris(trimethylsilyl)triiododisilane, 1,1,2-tri-i-propyltriiododisilane, 1,1,2-tri-t-butyltriiododisilane, 1,1,2-tri(1-methylpropyl)triiododisilane, 1,1,2-tricyclohexyltriiododisilane, 1,1,2-tri-α-phenethyltriiododisilane and 1,1,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)triiododisilane. Halogenotrisilanes of the formula (III) preferably include octachlorotrisilane, 1-i-propylheptachlorotrisilane, 1-t-butylheptachlorotrisilane, 1-(1-methylpropyl)heptachlorotrisilane, 1-cyclohexylheptachlorotrisilane, 1-(1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)heptachlorotrisilane, 1-α-phenethylheptachlorotrisilane, 1-cumenylheptachlorotrisilane, 1-(trimethylsilyl)heptachlorotrisilane, 2-i-propylheptachlorotrisilane, 2-t-butylheptachlorotrisilane, 2-(1-methylpropyl)heptachlorotrisilane, 2-cyclohexylheptachlorotrisilane, 2-(1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)heptachlorotrisilane, 2-α-phenethylheptachlorotrisilane, 2-cumenylheptachlorotrisilane, 2-(trimethylsilyl)heptachlorotrisilane, 1,1-di-i-propylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,1-di-t-butylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,1-di(1-methylpropyl)hexachlorotrisilane, 1,1-dicyclohexylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,1-di-α-phenethylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,1-bis(trimetylsilyl)hexachlorotrisilane, 1,2-di-i-propylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,2-di-t-butylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,2-di(1-methylpropyl)hexachlorotrisilane, 1,2-dicyclohexylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,2-di-α-phenethylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexachlorotrisilane, 1,3-di-i-propylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,3-di-t-butylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,3-di(1-methylpropyl)hexachlorotrisilane, 1,3-dicyclohexylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,3-di-α-phenethylhexachlorotrisilane, 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexachlorotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-i-propylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-t-butylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,1-tricyclohexylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-α-phenethylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,1-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-i-propylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-t-butylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,2-tricyclohexylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-α-phenethylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,1,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentachlorotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-i-propylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-t-butylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentachlorotrisilane, 1,2,3-tricyclohexylpentachlorotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-α-phenethylpentachlorotrisilane and 1,2,3-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentachlorotrisilane. Examples of other halogenotrisilanes eligible for the purpose of the invention include octabromotrisilane, 1-i-propylheptabromotrisilane, 1-t-butylheptabromotrisilane, 1-(1-methylpropyl)heptabromotrisilane, 1-cyclohexylheptabromotrisilane, 1-(1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)heptabromotrisilane, 1-α-phenethylheptabromotrisilane, 1-cumenylheptabromotrisilane, 1-(trimethylsilyl)heptabromotrisilane, 2-i-propylheptabromotrisilane, 2-t-butylheptabromotrisilane, 2-(1-methylpropyl)heptabromotrilane, 2-cyclohexylheptabromotrisilane, 2-(1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)heptabromotrisilane, 2-α-phenethylheptabromotrisilane, 2-cumenylheptabromotrisilane, 2-(trimethylsilyl)heptabromotrisilane, 1,1-di-i-propylhexabromotrisilane, 1,1-di-t-butylhexabromotrisilane, 1,1-di(1-methylpropyl)hexabromotrisilane, 1,1-dicyclohexylhexabromotrisilane, 1,1-di-α-phenethylhexabromotrisilane, 1,1-bis(triemthylsilyl)hexabromotrisilane, 1,2-di-i-propylhexabromotrisilane, 1,2-di-t-butylhexabromotrisilane, 1,2-di(1-methylpropyl)hexabromotrisilane, 1,2-dicyclohexylbromotrisilane, 1,2-di-α-phenethylhexabromotrisilane, 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexabromotrisilane, 1,3-di-i-propylhexabromotrisilane, 1,3-di-t-butylhexabromotrisilane, 1,3-di(1-methylpropyl)hexabromotrisilane, 1,3-dicyclohexylhexabromotrisilane, 1,3-di-α-phenethylhexabromotrisilane, 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexabromotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-i-propylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-t-butylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentabromotrisilane, 1,1,1-tricyclohexylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-α-phenethylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,1-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentabromotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-i-propylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-t-butylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentabromotrisilane, 1,1,2-tricyclohexylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-α-phenethylpentabromotrisilane, 1,1,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentabromotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-i-propylpentabromotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-t-butylpentabromotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentabromotrisilane, 1,2,3-tricyclohexylpentabromotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-α-phenethylpentabromotrisilane, 1,2,3-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentabromotrisilane, octaiodotrisilane, 1-i-propylheptaiodotrisilane, 1-t-butylheptaiodotrisilane, 1-(1-methylpropyl)heptaiodotrisilane, 1-cyclohexylheptaiodotrisilane, 1-(1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)heptaiodotrisilane, 1-α-phenethylheptaiodotrisilane, 1-cumenylheptaiodotrisilane, 1-(trimethylsilyl)heptaiodotrisilane, 2-i-propylheptaiodotrisilane, 2-t-butylheptaiodotrisilane, 2-(1-methylpropyl)heptaiodotrisilane, 2-cyclohexylheptaiodotrisilane, 2-(1,1,2-trimethylpropyl)heptaiodotrisilane, 2-α-phenethylheptaiodotrisilane, 2-cumenylheptaiodotrisilane, 2-(trimethylsilyl)heptaiodotrisilane, 1,1-di-i-propylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,1-di-t-butylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,1-di(1-methylpropyl)hexaiodotrisilane, 1,1-dicyclohexylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,1-di-α-phenethylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexaiodotrisilane, 1,2-di-i-propylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,2-di-t-butylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,2-di(1-methylpropyl)hexaiodotrisilane, 1,2-dicyclohexylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,2-di-α-phenethylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexaiodotrisilane, 1,3-di-i-propylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,3-di-t-butylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,3-di(1-methylpropyl)hexaiodotrisilane, 1,3-dicyclohexylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,3-di-α-phenethylhexaiodotrisilane, 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)hexaiodotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-i-propylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-t-butylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,1-tricyclohexylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,1-tri-α-phenethylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,1-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-i-propylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-t-butylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,2-tricyclohexylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,2-tri-α-phenethylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,1,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentaiodotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-i-propylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-t-butylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri(1-methylpropyl)pentaiodotrisilane, 1,2,3-tricyclohexylpentaiodotrisilane, 1,2,3-tri-α-phenethylpentaiodotrisilane and 1,2,3-tris(trimethylsilyl)pentaiodotrisilane. The above exemplified halogenosilane compounds are reacted with an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal usually in an inert solvent. This reaction is known as Wurtz condensation reaction. The term inert solvent used in the invention includes a hydrocarbon solvent such as toluene, xylene, heptane, decane and dodecane, and an ether solvent such as diethyl ether, isopropyl ether, methylbutylether, dimethoxy ethane, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane. Theee solvents may be used singly or in combination. The solvent is used in an amount of usually 1-100 parts by volume, preferably 5-50 parts by volume per part by volume of the halogenosilane compound. Examples of the alkali metal with which the halogenosilane is reacted include lithium, potassium, sodium, and examples of the alkaline earth metal include magnesium and calcium. These metals may be used singly or in combination. The amount of such a metal to be 1 used is usually 1-100 mole, preferably 1-50 mols per mol of the halogenosilane compound. The reaction is effected by introducing droplets of the halogenosilane compound into the inert solvent in which the metal is dispersed, or by introducing droplets of the metal dispersed solvent into the inert solvent in which the halogenosilane is dissolved. The reaction is conducted preferably in an argon or nitrogen gas atmosphere with or without ultrasonic irradiation. The reaction temperature is usually in the range of 0°-250°C, preferably 25°-210°C. The reaction pressure is usually in the range of atmospheric-200 kg/cm 2 , preferably atmospheric-100 kg/cm 2 . The reaction time is usually 5 minutes to 24 hours, preferably 30 minutes to 24 hours, though dependent upon the reaction temperature and the type of reaction metal used. The Wurtz condensation reaction may be carried out in the prensence of crown ethers such as 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, dibenzo-12-crown-4, dibenzo-15-crown-5 and dibenzo-18-crown-6, or diamines such as tetramethylethylene-diamine. These additives may be used in an amount of usually 0.01-100 mols, preferably 0.01-50 mols per mol of the halogenosilane. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction system is added with an alcohol such as methanol and ethanol to render unreacted metals inert, followed by washing with water to remove NaCl and other by-products. The reaction solution is thereafter introduced into methanol, ethanol, IPA, ethyl acetate, pentane or hexane thereby allowing the resultant condensate to precipitate. The condensate may be otherwise refined by contact with Florisil (tradename). These processes may also be combined. The condensate may be determined as to its structure by means of infrared or ultraviolet absorption spectrum, nuclear magnetic resonance (such as 1 HNMR, 13 CNMR and 29 SiNMR) and gel permeation chromatography. The condensate obtained in accordance with the invention usually contains repeating units of the wherein R 18 , R 19 , and R 20 are identical or different, and each include C 3 -C 12 secondary and tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups, C 8 -C 12 primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups, the silyl groups (formula I'), and which is chlorine, bromine or iodine. The ratios of m, n and o may vary according to the type of the starting monomer, feedstock used and the relative amounts of two or more different halogenosilanes that may be used, The value n/m is usually 0-1,000, preferably 0-100, and the value o/n is usually 0-1,000, preferably 0-100. The polysilane has a polymerization degree of usually 6-2,000 and a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of usually 100-10,000,000, preferably 500-1,000,000 and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of usually 100-1,000,000, preferably 300-500,000. The condensate product is subjected to thermal decomposition in which it is dissolved in a suitable solvent such as toluene and tetrahydrofuran and cast over a sheet of quartz or stainless steel, or a silicon wafer. Alternatively, the condensate may be thermally decomposed after it is processed into a fibrous or pellet form. The thermal decomposition is effected in the presence of an inert gas such as argon and nitrogen or in a vacuum of 10 -5 -10 4 pa, preferably 10 -3 -10 3 pa and at a temperature of 100°-700 °C, preferably 200°-700 °C. It may be effected in the presence of a reducing gas such as hydrogen or a mixture of this and the inert gas, in which case the reducing gas is used in an amount of 0.1-100%, preferably 1-50% relative to the inert gas. The thermal decomposition reaction may be further effected in the presence of a vapor such as of iodine, ferric chloride, antimony pentafluoride, antimony pentachloride, arsenic pentafluoride, phosphorus trichloride, boron tribromide and aluminum trichloride, the amount of addtion thereof being 1 vol.ppt- 10 vol.%, preferably 1 vol.ppb- 1 vol.%. The semiconducting material derived from the inventive process ranges in hue from yellow to dark brown, to glossy silver and has in the case of a film a thickness of usually 0.01 µm - 500 µm, preferably 0.1 µm - 50 µm, and an optical band-gap (EO) of usually 0.1-4.0 eV, preferably 0.5-2.0 eV. The invention will be further described by way of the following examples. Example 1 A 100 ml four-neck flask equipped with stirring blade, reflux condenser and funnel was charged with methallic sodium (1.4g., 40 mmols) and unhydrous toluene (20 mmols) and heated with stirring. When reflux began, a toluene solution (10 ml) of 1-methylpropyl-pentachlorodisilane (3.0 g., 10 mmols) was added dropwise under vigorous agitation. The reaction mixture immediately turned violet and subsequently, reflux with stirring continued for one hour, followed by cooling to room temperature and addition of methanol. The reaction mixture was thereafter added with ether (60 ml), washed with water and dried. The resulting condensate was refined by precipitation in toluene-methanol until there was obtained a yellowish powdery condensate product (0.29 g., yield 26%). A toluene solution of the condensate was applied by casting to a sheet of quartz glass and then heated at 700°C for one hour in an argon atmosphere to give a dark brown film (0.1 µm thick). The film showed a conductivity of 10 -6 S/cm and an optical band-gap (Eo) of 1.7 eV. Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 was followed except that a mixture of cyclohexyltrichlorosilane (2.2 g., 100 mmols) and silicon tetrachloride (0.85 g., 5.0 mmols) was used. There was obtained a yellowish powdery condensate (1.19 g., yield 19%). A toluene solution of the condensate was applied by casting to a sheet of quartz glass and then heated at 700°C for one hour in an argon atmosphere to give a dark brown film (0.2 µm thick). The film showed a conductivity of 10 -4 S/cm and an optical band-gap (Eo) of 1.5 eV. Example 3 The procedure of Example 1 was followed except that a mixture of 1,3-di-n-hexylhexa chlorotrisilane (0.8 g., 1.70 mmols), potassium-sodium alloy (0.84 g., 13.6 mmols) and 18-crown-6 (26 mg., 0.1 mmol) was used. There was obtained a yellowish powdery condensate (99 mg., yield 23%). A toluene solution of the condensate was cast over a sheet of quartz glass and then heataed at 600°C for three hours in an argon atmosphere to give a dark brown film. The film exhibited a conductivity of 10 -6 S/cm and an optical band-gap (Eo) of 1.8 eV.

Claims: A method of producing a semiconducting material which is characterized by reacting one or more halogenosilanes of the group consisting of : halogenomonosilanes of the formula wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of X, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and silyl groups having the formula: R 3 R 4 R 5 Si― wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selectd from the group consisting of alkyl groups having up to 8 carbon atoms and aryl groups having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and X which is chlorine, bromine or iodine, halogenodisilanes having the formula: wherein R 6 to R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of X, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, said silyl groups (I') and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, and at least one of R 6 to R 10 is X, and halogenotrisilanes having the formula: wherein R 11 to R 17 are independently selected from the group consisting of X, secondary alkyl, tertiary alkyl and cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, primary, secondary and tertiary aralkyl groups having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, said silyl groups (I') and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, and at least one of R 11 to R 17 is X, with an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal to give a condensate, and thermally decomposing said condensate at a temperature of 100 to 700 degrees Celsius. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said semiconducting material has an optical band gap Eo in the range 0.1 to 2.0 eV. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the alkali metal is selected from the group of lithium, sodium and potassium, and said alkaline earth metal is selected from the group of calcium and magnesium, said alkali metal and/or said alkaline earth metal being used in an amount of 1 - 100 mols per mol of said halogenosilane. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the reaction is conducted in an inert solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, heptane, decane, dodecane, diethyl ether, isopropyl ether, methylbutyl ether, dimethoxy ethane, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane, said inert solvent being used in an amount of 1 - 100 mols per mol of said halogenosilane. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the haloqenosilane is reacted with said alkali metal and/or said alkaline earth metal at a temperature of 0 to 250 degrees Celsius for a time length of 5 minutes to 24 hours. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the condensate is thermally decomposed in an inert gas atmosphere, or in a vacuum of 10 -5 - 10 4 Pa.

Inventors: IKAI KEIZO, MATSUNO MITSUO, MINAMI MASAKI, IKAI, KEIZO, MATSUNO, MITSUO, MINAMI, MASAKI
Applicants: NIPPON OIL CO LTD, NIPPON OIL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C08G77
IPC codes: C08G77, H01L51, H01L21, H01B1